Process of making radiator cores



T. J. KEHOE.

PROCESS OF MAKING RADIATOR CORES.

APPLICATION FILED IUL Y H.19I7.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

T. 1. KEHOE. PROCESS OF MAKING RADIATOR CORES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14,191?- 1,404,030 Patented Jim. 17,1922.*

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

-/6 I 53: j; Z: w

1/20/2703 J. Ke/Iae elttormcq UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. KEHOE, OI TOLEDO,

rm, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

rnoonss or MAKING nanu'ron oonns.

To all whom it may concern.

e it known that I, THOMAS J. KEHOE, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of MakingRadiator Cores, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved process for making radiator cores.The principalobject of my invention is to provide an improved processfor making radiator cores, which will reduce materially the cost oflabor and material needed in making such cores, and will enable theirrapid production at a low cost. V

Further objects,- and objects relating to economies of manufacture anddetails of construction, will definitely a pear from the detaileddescription to fol low. I accomplish the objects of my invention by thedevices and means described in the following specification. My inventionis clearly defined and pointed out in the appended. claims.

A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawin forming a part of thisspecificatlomin w ich- Fi I is a plan view of the blank from whicfi tlieradiator tubes are made, after the slittin operation has been performed.

Figure II is a lan view of the blank shown in Figure after the firstcreasing operation has been performed.

Figure III is a p an view of the blank after the depressions forming theside walls of the tube have been formed in the blank.

Figure IV is a lan view of a blank which has been fully f0 med and isready to fold along its center line in order to form a complete radiatortube.

Flgure V is a pers ctive view of a. ortion of a radiator tu e formed byfol ing the. blank shown in Figure IV along its center line.

Figure VI is a fragmentary top plan view showing a plurality ofradiatortubes and spacing strips assembled in proper relation in a framepreparatory to soldering Specification 01' Letters Patent. Patented Jan, 17 1922. Application filed July 14,

1917. Serial No. 180,641.

thi:I edges thereof to form a complete core, an

Figure VII is a fragmentary, perspective view showing a portion ofthe'radiator core, with the edges of the tube soldered to close thejoints.

In the drawings, similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views. 1

Considering the numbered parts of the drawing, I have shown a blank orstrip of sheet metal 10 from which the radiator OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THEWILLYS-OVERLAND ,QOM-

tubes are formed. The first operation consists in slitting these blanksalon the longitudinal center line thereof fornnng therein a plurality ofspaced slits 11, as shown in Figures I, II and III. crease -or fold 12is then formed in the blank, as shown in Figure II, which transversecrease extends through the slit 11. A plurality of these creases areformed in the blank and the body of the blank between the transversecreasesor folds 12 is then operated upon by means of dies or othersuitable tools to form the depressions 13. on opposite sides of thecenter line of the A transverse blank, the portions 14 at the edges ofthe blank and the portion 15 at the center of the blank being left inthe plane of the ori 'nal sheet of metal, as is clearly shown'depressions 13, provided with the grooves 16 therein, the portions 14at the edges and 15 in the center of the blank being in th same ,plane,and the slits 11 lying in the center line of the portion 15. -At thesame time that the dies operate to form the depressions 13 and thegrooves 16, the operate to clinch or pinch together the on of the foldsor creases 12, so as to form the portions 17 at the ends thereof topartlally, seal these portions of the folds 12, as clearly appears fromFigure V of the drawingsembled together within along the line of .shownin Figure After the blank has been formed of a sufficient length to makea radiator tube, it is then folded along its center line, that is theslits 11, to the form V of the drawing, so as to bring the portions14-into engagement with each other, to make a complete tube, so that oneedge of the tube is formed bythe abutting portions 14, while the otheredge of the tube is formed by the portions 15, which are folded alongthe center line. complete tube is thus formed having the side walls 13with the grooves therein an the folds 12 forming fins laterallyextending from the side of thetube.

, The tubes ,forming the radiator core are made up in this manner, and aplurality of tubes are assembled within a temporary wooden frame 18,with spacing strips 19, which may be made of steel or anysuitablematerial, interposed between the laterally extending fins 12 of theadjacent tubes, as is shown in Figure VI. The tubes in their final formare rectangular in outline as shown in Figure VI, and the fins anddepressions on opposite sides of the center line are locatedsymmetrically with respect to the center line, the fins all extendingsubstantially the same distance on each side of the center line. Thetubes and spacing strips alternate across the frame when assembled, asshown in Figure VI, in such a manner that each spacing strip parallelsthe general direction of its adjoining tube and separates such tube fromthe tube nearest thereto, thus forming a built-up core comprisingalternate tubes-and spacing strips, which when attached together attheir edges mutually support each other in position. A sufficientnumberv of tubes and spacing strips are asthe frame 18 and clamped inthis position, leaving the edges of the tubes and spacing stri sprojecting on both sides of the frame, as s own in Figure "VII. Theseprojecting edges are then attached together 1n any desired manner as bybeing welded or dipped in solder at 20, so that the portions 14, 17 and15 of the tubes are completely dipped in the solder, which seals alljoints at these places, and seals the tubesto the spacing strips toprevent lateral movement of one relative to the other, and at the sanietime makes a complQ ZB. Water tight tube. The frame 18 can then beremoved and the radiator core is complete and ready for assembling intothe radiator frame.

The operations illustrated in F igiires Ito IV inclusive, are, inpractice, performed by a single machine, which does the slitting,creasing-and stamping so as to turn out a blank, which is formed asshown in Figure IV.

It will be apparent that a radiator core (1 spacing strips 19, betweenthe tubes,

Letters Patent is can be formed in accordance with this process veryrapidly, since the forming ofYthe blank from which the tube is made canbe rapidly and effectively accomplished and the blank can be easilyfolded along its center line to form the tubeas shown in Figure V. Theoperation of assembling in the frame 18 can be quickly accomplished andthe soldering of the edges to make the com-- plete tube is also verysimple since it merely A consists in dipping the edges of the tubes intothe solder. By means of the use of the economize on material, as it isnot necessary to use spacing strips of brass, as in the case of-thetubes, as these strips do not come in contact with the cooling liquid.It will also be apparent that by forming the radiator tube and core inthis way, the cost of solder can be lessened, since only the edges ofthe tubes are soldered and 'it is a fact that a radiator constructedprocess takes up much less solder than is used in connection withradiator cores made by other well known processes.

I am aware that this particular process, which I have here shown anddescribed, is susceptible of considerable variation without departingfrom the spirit of my invention, but I have found that this particularembodiment of my invention is desirable from many standpoints, and,therefore, I desire to claim the same specifically as well as .claims.

Havin thus described my invention, what I c aim as new and desire tosecure by 1. The method of making radiator cores comprising slitting ablank along its longitudinal center line at spaced intervals; creasingthe blank transversely at intervals through said slits; striking down aportion of the body of the blank between said creases; crimping the endsand centers of saidcreases; folding the blank longitudinally along theline'of said slits to make a complete tube; assembling a plurality oftubes thus formed in a temporary frame with spacing strips interposedbetween adjacent tubes; and dipping the edges of said tubes and stripsin solder to seal the same.

2. The method of making radiator cores comprising slitting a blank alongits longitudinal center ing the blank transversely at intervals throughsaid slits; striking down a portion of the body of the blank betweensaid creases; crimping the ends and centers of said creases; folding theblank longitudinally along the line of said slits, to make a'com;

plete tube; assembling a plurality of tubes thus formed in a temporaryframe; and sealing the edges of said tube.

Ican' in accordance with this line at spaced intervals; creas- 3. Themethod of making radiator cores comprising slitting a blank along itslongitudinal center line at spaced intervals; creasing the blanktransversely at intervals through said slits; striking down a portion ofthe body of the blank between said creases; crimping the ends andcenters of said creases; folding the blank longitudinally along theline'of said slits to make a complete tube; and-assembling a pluralityof tubes thus formed with spacing strips interposed between adjacenttubes.

4. The method of making radiator cores comprising assembling together aplurality of tubes, each tube being formed by first slitting a blankalong its longitudinal center line at spaced intervals, creasing theblank transversely at intervals through said slit; strikin down aportion of the body of the blank etween said creases; crimping the endsand centers of said creases and folding the blank longitudinally alongthe line of said slits to make a complete tube.

5. The method of making radiator cores comprising slitting a blank alongits longitudinal center line at spaced intervals; creasing the blanktransversely through said slits; striking down a portion of the body ofthe blank between said creases; folding the blank longitudinally alongthe line of said slits to make a complete tube; assembling a pluralityof tubes thus formed in a temporary frame; and sealing the edges of saidtubes by dipping the same in solder.

6. The method of making radiator cores comprising slitting a blank alongits longitudinal center line at spaced intervals; creasing the blanktransversely at intervals through said slits; forming depressions in thebody of said blank between said creases;

folding the blank longitudinally along the line of said slit to make acomplete tube; assemblinga plurality of tubes thus formed in a temporaryframe; and sealin the edges of said tubes when thus assembled.

7. The method ofmaking radiator cores comprising slitting a blank alongits lon itudinal center llne at spaced intervais; forming the blank oneach side of said center line to provide spaced grooves and depressionsbetween said grooves; folding said blank longitudinally, along the lineof said slits, to make a complete tube; and sealing the edges of saidtubes.

8. The method of making radiator cores comprising slitting the blankalong its longitudinal center i center lines, to provide spaced groovesand depressions between said grooves; folding the blank longitudinallyalong said slits; assembling a plurality of tubes thus formed in atemporary frame with spacing strips interposed between adjacent tubes;and dipne, at spaced intervals 2, forming the blank on both sides ofsaid ping the edges of said tubes and strips in solder to seal the same.

9. The method of making radiator cores comprising slitting a blank alongits longitudinal center line, forming spaced grooves therein anddepressions between said grooves; folding the blank on the longitudinalcenter line to bring the opposite longitudinal edges of said blank inengagement with each other; assembling a plurality of tubes thus formedin a temporary frame; and sealing the edges of said tubes.

10. The method of making radiator cores, comprising the forming of ablank by slittin the blank at intervals along its longitu inal centerline forming spaced grooves on either side of said center line; thefolding of said blank along its longitudinal center line to bring theopposite longitudinal edges into registering engagement to make acomplete tube so that both of said edges will be completely exposed;assembling a plurality of tubes thus formed in a temporary frame, withspacing strips interpos ed between adjacent tubes; and sealing the edgesof said tubes and strips while held in said temporaryv form to seal saidtubes and to join said tubes and strips together to make a completeradiator core.

11. The method of making radiator tubes comprising slitting a blank atspaced intervals along its longitudinal center line, creasing the blanktransversely through said slits, striking down portions of the blank,folding the blank along the line of said slits to form tubes having edgeportions, and sealing the edges of said tubes.

12. The method of making radiator tubes comprising the forming of aweakened portion alon the longitudinal center line of a blank sheet ofmetal, striking down portions of the body of the blank at each side ofthe weakened center line, folding the blank along the weakenedlongitudinal center line to form tubes having edge portions, and sealingthe edges of said tubes.

13. The method of making radiator tubes comprising the slitting of asheet metal blank at intervals along its longitudinal center line,creasing the blank transversely through said slits, folding the blanklongitudinally along the line of said slits to bring the oppositelongitudinal edges into registering engagement to make a complete tube,and sealing the edges of said tube.

14. The method of making radiator tubes comprising the slitting of asheet metal blank at intervals along its longitudinal center line,creasing the blank transversely through said slits, folding the blanklongitudinally along the line of said slits, crimping the ends of saidcreases, and sealing the comprising the slitting of a sheet metal tionalong the longitudinal center line of a 'blank at intervals along itslongitudinal sheet metal blank, striking down portions 10 center line,strikin down portions of the of the, blank, folding the blank along-theblank, folding the lilank along the line of weakened longitudinal centerline, and seal- 5 said slits to form tubes having edge poring the edgesof said tubes.

tions, and sealing the edges of said tubes. In testimony whereof I afiixmy sigma.-

16. The method of making radiator tubes ture. Y

comprising the forming of a weakened por= THOMAS J, KEHOE.

